Larry (Pokémon)

Larry, known as Aoki (アオキ) in Japan, is a character in Nintendo and Game Freak's Pokémon media franchise. Introduced in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, he serves as both a Gym Leader and an Elite Four member in the game's setting, specializing in Normal and Flying-type Pokémon. He is resembled to depict a stereotypical Japanese salaryman, and is known for his expressionless dialogue and personality. In the anime, he is voiced by Kōsuke Toriumi, while in the Pokémon Masters EX video game he is voiced by Kenyu Horiuchi.

Since Larry's introduction into the series, Larry has received a highly positive critical response, being highlighted as relatable. He has also been described as a breakout character.

Concept and design
Developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo, the Pokémon franchise began in Japan in 1996 with the release of the video games Pokémon Red and Blue for the Game Boy. In these games, the player assumes the role of a Pokémon Trainer whose goal is to capture and train creatures called Pokémon. Players use the creatures' special abilities to combat other Pokémon, both in the wild as well as those used by other Trainers. Created for the 2022 sequels Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, Larry is a "Gym Leader", a type of Trainer that acts as a boss players must defeat to proceed. He also acts as an Elite Four member, serving as one of the four opponents that must be battled prior to the battle against the Champion. Larry has been voiced in the Pokémon anime series by Kōsuke Toriumi in Japanese.

Appearances
Larry is a Gym Leader in Medali, a town in the Paldea region in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. He is described as a Japanese salaryman, and has a bland and deadpan personality. He specializes in Normal-type Pokémon in the first battle, and serves as the third Elite Four member specializing in Flying-type Pokémon. He can be rematched once more in the postgame, once again using his Normal-type team, and can also be rematched in the Indigo Disk DLC expansion for the game. Larry later appears in the Pokémon anime series.

Reception
Jenni Lada of Siliconera praised Larry, stating how expressive and distinct he is from other Pokémon characters: "However, while he isn't as immediately flashy or memorable at a glance, the character development surrounding him is extraordinary. There's so much personality there, even with as few interactions as a person gets, and it makes him one of the best characters in the game." She opined that characters like Larry do not need to be "flashy" to be well received, describing how they provide a comforting feeling. TheGamer's Ben Sledge posited similar ideas, citing Larry as a relatable character. Larry has been described as a breakout character due to his popularity among fans of the series.

Kotaku Kenneth Shepard stated that "The work/life balance conversation woven throughout Larry’s story is the single most pronounced example of an ongoing thread throughout Scarlet and Violet," citing that, "Where in other Pokémon regions like Galar gym leaders are treated with a hint of celebrity, or like professional athletes, the Paldea region seems to undervalue their contributions... Larry's outright disdain for the whole capitalist process has made him analogous to characters like Squidward from Spongebob Squarepants, and fans have taken the comparison and run with it." He further states that "Larry's disgruntled worker persona has made him a bridge between Pokémon fans young and old. Where the kids find him a silly guy who gives them a challenging fight, adult fans familiar with the soul-crushing weight of the daily grind have found a kindred spirit. Who among us doesn't know what it’s like to hate their job, hate their boss, but still suck it up and do what we’re paid for so we can just go home and enjoy a little peace amid this capitalist hellscape? He is, as the kids say, "just like me, for real." Despite his lack of distinguishable personality, he was praised as a highly unique character due to his realistic worldview. His dialogue has led to discussion about the in-universe position of Gym Leader being a fictional equivalent to a low paying yet important job. Destructoid Timothy Monbleau named Larry his favorite character of 2022, citing Larry as a highlight for adult fans of the series, praising his relatability.

His blandness and lack of uniqueness have also been popular. His personality, despite appearing one-note at first glance, has been highlighted for its surprising depth. Thomas Greatorex of GameRant cited that "Larry is a brilliant example of how to create an iconic Pokemon Gym Leader without the need for pompous outfits or unrealistic exchanges, instead leaning into real-world tropes to tell a subtle story that many players wish they couldn't relate to as much as they do." Larry has also been the subject of shipping, in which two fictional characters are paired into a romantic relationship by fans. He was primarily shipped with the character Rika, another Elite Four member in Scarlet and Violet. The popularity behind the ship was cited to multiple factors, primarily due to the highly contrasting personalities of Rika and Larry, as Rika is primarily depicted with a more active and sometimes aggressive personality in contrast to Larry's calm and disgruntled demeanor. The popularity of both characters was also cited as a reason for its popularity, which has inspired a large amount of fanwork, such as fanart and fanfiction.